Special Sections : West Fire

By Mark Powell

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A community meeting to discuss how to financially assist victims of the West Fire was held Monday, Aug. 2, at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall on Tehachapi Boulevard.

There will be no shortage of chances for Tehachapi residents to assist the victims of a fire that recently overwhelmed Old West Ranch.

There also will be no shortage of volunteers apparently.

Roughly 120 people packed the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall on Tehachapi Boulevard Monday, Aug. 2, to discuss ways to raise money for those whose homes were lost or damaged during the West Fire, which burned 1,658 acres last week in Old West Ranch.

The fire burned 23 primary residences and displaced a currently unknown number of people.

Orion Sanders, who emceed the meeting, said a benefit concert for West Fire victims had been tentatively scheduled for Aug. 28.

Sanders said it would be called the "West Fire Relief Music Festival," and could feature roughly a dozen musical acts. Different organizations, including the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross, are expected to be present to collect donations.

Any groups wishing to sell items to raise money are welcome to set up booths or tents at the festival, Sanders said.

"What we want is to pull all of that together," he said. (Click here to visit the Old West Ranch victims assistance Facebook group).

Marget Willer, local center director for The Salvation Army, said 100 percent of all donations would go toward assisting victims of the West Fire.

Willer said cash donations were needed more than anything right now.

Kern Red Cross C.E.O. Holly Arnold said donations were coming in from "all over the United States."

"It's just a demonstration of the remarkable city we live in," Vernon said.

Georgiana Armstrong, emergency services manager for the Kern County Fire Department, said victims might be able to receive aid from a small business administration declaration, which the county will receive word of after federal officials asses damages in Old West Ranch this week.

"We really have our hopes set on that," Armstrong said.

Armstrong said the county's engineering and survey services department would attempt to expedite any efforts needed to allow property owners to begin rebuilding at Old West Ranch.